Friday, August 10, 2018

Yperite.

"First World War battlefield in Verdun still a danger with thousands of exploded shells 100 years on. Nearly 100 years since the end of the First World War and there are still areas of France unsafe to be visited because of unexploded shells. Some 300,000 soldiers were killed in the Battle of Verdun between France and Germany from February to December 1916. During the onslaught, around six million shells - including many containing mustard gas - were fired by the opposing sides. One millionof those failed to explode. Dozens of unexploded shells are unearthed every day"

One-sixth of artillery rounds as fired at Verdun did not detonate! Correct to the extent that you want an artillery round to explode only when you want it to explode. Just as you only want a bomb to explode when you want it to explode. Quality control as understood at that point in time either not a concern or as well implemented as is now? I am not sure.